Disposable eating utensil set

ABSTRACT

The set of disposable eating utensils includes a knife and a second utensil, in the form of a fork, a spoon or a combined fork and spoon. The utensils are formed integrally or are connected by frangible means. The utensils are situated in side by side relation, with the handles situated in substantially the same plane. The knife includes a blade section with a recess. The second utensil has a head section which aligns with the recess, and is adapted to nest within the recess, before the utensils are separated. The head section of the second utensil has a recess and a toothed forward edge. The set may include a third utensil. The set may be provided in a paper sleeve or envelope type package. The utensils are made of wood, plastic or biodegradable material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to eating utensils and more particularly to a set including a disposable eating utensils formed integrally or connected together in side by side relation with the handle sections in the same plane.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Disposable and non-disposable eating utensils of various sizes and shapes are known, as are various ways to attach and combine utensils for various purposes. However, there is no set of disposable eating utensils which are formed integrally or connect together in a manner which permits the utensils to be easily separated with casual force.

Further, there is no set of utensils which can be formed of wood and be at least partially enclosed in a paper sleeve, so as to provide restaurants and patrons with an alternative to traditional chopsticks.

Restaurants would benefit from using such eating utensils because they would not have to invest in flatware, worry about lost or stolen non-disposable utensils or pay for the labor and hot water necessary to have the flatware repeatedly washed. Disposable eating utensils also improve hygiene and reduce the time and labor necessary to set tables.

Restaurant patrons benefit from the improved hygiene of disposable utensils, as well. Further, presenting the utensils as a unit, in a sleeve or envelop package, indicates to the patron that the utensils have not been previously used or tampered with.

Patrons' feelings of inadequacy due to difficulties in using traditional chopsticks would be eliminated by the present invention. Moreover, the present invention may be particularly useful for children who may not have the skills necessary to effectively use chopsticks.

Such utensils could be used for ceremonial purposes. In particular, the separation of the utensils may be an anticipated and satisfying ceremony unique to the Asian dining experience. They also provide a certain amount of novelty. They are also suitable for home use, as well as recreational use for picnics, large gatherings and the like.

It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil which can be formed integrally or connected together for presentation as a set.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set in which the utensils can be easily separated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil in which the utensils are situated in side by side relation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set in which the utensils are situated with their handle sections in the same plane.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set in which the utensils are situated such that the head of one utensil is in alignment with a recess in another of the utensils.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set in which the utensils can be formed of wood, plastic or biodegradable materials made from cornstarch and other plant starches.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set which can be sold in a paper sleeve or envelop type package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable eating utensil set which is inexpensive to fabricate and easy to use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Those objects are achieved by the present invention which relates to a set of disposable eating utensils. Each of the utensils has a handle section. The utensils may be formed integrally or the utensils may be connected together by frangible means. In either case, the utensils are situated in side by side relation with the handle sections of the utensils situated in substantially the same plane.

One of the utensils has an edge with a shape. Another of the utensils has a recess with a shape corresponding to the shape of the edge of the first utensil. The shape of the edge and the shape of the recces are preferably both arcuate.

One of the utensils is a knife. The knife has a blade section. The recess is situated in the blade section of said knife.

Another of the utensils may be a combined fork and spoon. The combined fork and spoon has a head section. The edge forms part of the head section.

The utensils are preferably made of wood. However, they may be made of plastic or other biodegradable materials made of cornstarch or other plant starches.

One of the utensils has a recess. Another of the utensils has a section which aligns with the recess.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a set of disposable eating utensils is provided including a first utensil with a handle section and a second utensil with a handle section. The utensils are formed such that they are in side by side relation, with the handle sections situated in substantially the same plane.

One of the utensils is a knife having a blade section with a recess. The other utensil includes a head section aligned with the recess. The recess has an arcuate edge. The head section has a corresponding arcuate edge.

The utensils are preferably made of wood. However, the may alternatively be formed of plastic or biodegradable materials made from cornstarch or other plant starches.

The head section of the other utensil comprises a head with a recess and a toothed forward edge.

The knife has a blade. The blade has a toothed edge.

The set further includes a package into which the set of utensils is at least partially received. The package may take the form of a sleeve or envelope made of paper.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a combination is provided including a set of disposable eating utensils comprising a knife with a handle section and a combined fork and spoon with a handle section, said utensils being situated in side by side relation with said handle sections in substantially the same plane, and a package into which the set of utensils is at least partially received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, the present invention relates to disposable set of eating utensils as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the utensils connected together;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the set of utensils of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the utensils separated;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the set of utensils of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the utensils situated in a paper package;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the utensils in FIG. 1 showing the utensils connected by a layer of adhesive;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the utensils in FIG. 1 showing the utensils as they would appear if formed integrally; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention which consists of a fork, knife and spoon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment present invention relates to a set of eating utensils including a knife, generally designated A and a combined fork and spoon, generally designated B. Knife A has a substantially planar handle section 10. Combined fork and spoon B has a substantially planar handle section 12.

Knife A and combined fork and spoon B are formed integrally, as illustrated in FIG. 5 or connected together by frangible means, such as a thin layer 11 of adhesive, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In either case, the utensils are situated in side by side relation, with knife handle section 10 and combined fork and spoon handle section 12 is substantially the same plane.

If the utensils are formed integrally, one or more channels 13 are provided between the handles of the utensils forming a weakened line which facilitates separation of the utensils by flexing the utensils relative to each other. Otherwise the utensils are connected together by frangible connecting means 11 which can be any means for connecting the utensils such that they can easily be separated by moderate force. For example, the frangible means may take the form of a thin layer 11 of adhesive between the adjacent edges of the handle sections 10, 12 of the utensils.

Knife A has a substantially planar blade 16 connected to and in the same plane as handle section 10. Blade 16 has an arcuate recess 18 and a set of teeth 20 designed to enhance the ability of the knife to cut.

The combined fork and spoon B has a head section 22 connected to handle section 12. Head section 22 preferably has a recess 23 forming the spoon portion of the utensil. Because of the recess 23 of head section 22, at least a part of the head will extend at least a short distance beyond the plane of handle section 12. The forward edge of head 22 is provided with a set of teeth 24 so as to form the fork portion of the utensil.

Head section 22 of the combined fork and spoon B aligns with recess 18 of knife A when before the utensils are separated, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As best seen in FIG. 2, which shows the utensils separated, the edge 26 of blade 16 which defines recess 18 is arcuate. The edge 28 of head 22, which is proximate edge 26 of blade 16 when the utensils are connected, has substantially the same arcuate shape as edge 26.

Accordingly, head 22 of the combined fork and spoon B will nest in recess 18 of knife A when the utensils are connected so as to form a set in which the utensils are adjacent each other without any significant spaces therebetween. The set can then be packaged in a paper sleeve or envelop, generally designated C, as seen in FIG. 3, in a manner similar to the way traditional chopsticks are packaged.

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the set of utensils includes three utensils, a knife A, a fork D and a spoon E. The utensils are situated in side by side relation, with the handles in substantially the same plane, as in the first preferred embodiment. Like the first preferred embodiment, the utensils may be formed integrally or may be connected together by frangible means. Like the first preferred embodiment, the utensils may be made of wood, plastic or biodegradable materials made from cornstarch or other plant starches. Like the first preferred embodiment, the utensils may be provided in a sleeve or envelop package made of paper, similar to sleeve C of FIG. 3 but enlarged to accept the three utensils.

It will now be appreciated that the present invention relates to a set of disposable eating utensils in which each utensil has a handle section. The utensils are formed integrally, or connected by frangible means, in side by side relation, with the handle sections situated in substantially the same plane.

The knife includes a blade section with a recess. The other utensil or utensils include a head section which aligns with the recess, and is adapted to nest within the recess, before the utensils are separated. The recess has an arcuate edge. The head section has a corresponding arcuate edge.

The head section includes a recessed and a toothed forward edge. The knife has a blade with a toothed edge.

The set further includes a package into which the set of utensils is at least partially received.

While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A set of disposable eating utensils, each of said utensils having a handle section, said utensils being formed integrally or comprising frangible means for connecting said utensils, wherein said utensils are in side by side relation with said handle sections situated in substantially the same plane.
 2. The set of claim 1 wherein one of said utensils has an edge with a shape and the other of said utensils has a recess with a shape corresponding to said shape of said edge.
 3. The set of claim 2 wherein said shape of said edge and said shape of said recces are both arcuate.
 4. The set of claim 3 wherein said one utensil is a knife and said other of said utensils comprises a spoon.
 5. The set of claim 4 wherein said knife has a blade section and said recess is situated in said blade section of said knife.
 6. The set of claim 4 wherein said combined fork and spoon has a non-handle section and wherein said edge forms part of said non-handle section.
 7. The set of claim 1 wherein said utensils are made of a material including wood, plastic or biodegradable materials made from cornstarch or other plant starches.
 8. The set of claim 1 wherein one of said utensils has a recess and the other of said utensils has a section which aligns with said recess.
 9. The set of claim 1 wherein one of said utensils is a knife and said other of said utensils is a combination fork and spoon.
 10. The set of claim 1 wherein one of said utensils is a knife and said other of said utensils comprises a spoon, further comprising a third utensil in the form of a fork.
 11. A set of disposable eating utensils comprising a knife with a handle section and a second utensil with a handle section, said utensils being formed integrally or connected by frangible means, with said utensils in side by side relation and said handle sections situated in substantially the same plane.
 12. The set of claim 11 wherein said knife comprises a blade section with a recess and said second utensil comprises a head section aligned with said recess.
 13. The set of claim 12 wherein said recess has an arcuate edge and said head section has a corresponding arcuate edge.
 14. The set of claim 11 wherein said utensils are made of wood, plastic or biodegradable materials made from cornstarch or other plant starches.
 15. The set of claim 12 wherein said head section of said second utensil comprises a recess and a toothed forward edge.
 16. The set of claim 11 wherein said knife comprises a blade.
 17. The set of claim 16 wherein said blade comprises a toothed edge.
 18. The set of claim 11 further comprising a package into which said set of utensils is at least partially received.
 19. The set of claim 11 further comprising a third utensil.
 20. The set of claim 19 wherein said second utensil comprises a spoon and said third utensil comprises a fork
 21. In combination, a set of disposable eating utensils comprising a knife with a handle section a second utensil with a handle section, said utensils being formed integrally or connected together by frangible means, said utensils being situated in side by side relation with said handle sections in substantially the same plane, and a package into which the set of utensils is at least partially received. 